Indonesia’s largest Muslim group set for bigger role in Jokowi’s second term
- Nahdlatul Ulama has 60 million followers and is a voice for moderate Islam amid rising religiosity
- But analysts say its increased prominence could disenfranchise conservatives and worsen identity politics
Indonesia’s largest moderate Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is poised to expand its influence in President Joko Widodo’s new government, following the country’s divisive election campaign dominated by explosive rhetoric on religion and ethnicity.
Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, chose as his vice-president an elderly cleric aligned with the NU, Ma’ruf Amin. Support from the group’s 60 million members helped secure his re-election in April, easing fears that the world’s most populous Muslim nation would succumb to faith politics in choosing its next leader.
Since then, NU’s political vehicle, the National Awakening Party (PKB), has nominated its president Muhaimin Iskandar, as the Indonesian parliament’s upper house leader. Yenny Wahid, the great-granddaughter of NU founder Hasyim Asy’ari has been touted by local media as a possible cabinet minister, and Zuhairi Miswari, a key NU member, continues to be Widodo’s spokesperson.
Yenny was tight-lipped when asked if she would be entering cabinet, telling This Week in Asia: “I don’t know. I have not seen him [Widodo] in a while as he has been busy travelling.”
She said she would say no to a post if it was a role she did not feel equipped for.